Surgical dressing for closing wounds



July 3, 1956 A. S. FINK SURGICAL DRESSING FOR CLOSING WOUNDS Filed July 16, 1953 INVENTOR.

ABRAHAM FINK SURGICAL DRESSING FOR CLOSING WOUNDS Abraham S. Fink, Gloversville, N. Y. Application July 16, 1953, Serial No. 368,417

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-334) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bandages and surgical dressings.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved device readily adapted and available for closing various size wounds without the need for suturing them with stitches or metal clamps.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the device of a pair of reinforced adhesive back strips with coacting elements on each strip with means to draw the elements on one strip toward those on the other to draw the strips together and close a wound therebetween, such structure being so simple to use that even laymen can use it in emergency cases to close cuts or other wounds temporarily and thereby prevent infection and reduce loss of blood.

Still further, the present invention proposes sealing the strips in a discardable sterile envelope with crinoline or other gauzemesh removably covering the adhesive like the common band-aid so that the device will remain sterile and ready for emergency use.

As a further object, the present invention proposes arranging the coacting elements and means to draw the elements together so that the strips may be separated in half for small wounds or may be used in tandem (two or more strips end to end) for larger wounds.

The present invention further proposes constructing the coacting elements as slide fastener elements and the means to draw them toward one another as a slide with both the elements and the slide made of flexible, antiseptic plastic material.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the wound closing device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the envelope removed and the strips spread apart.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the strips shown in Fig. 2 with the crinoline removed from the adhesive backing and the strips adhered to a persons wrist on each side of an open wound.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the strips laced together and the wound closed.

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of one of the strips showing the crinoline or gauzemesh partially removed from the adhesive backing.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but of the strips shown in Fig. 8.

nited States Patent 0 ice The wound closing device, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, has a pair of strips 15 and 16 made of fabric, thermoplastic or similar material. The strips are reinforced, each being folded in double thickness and secured. Each strip has an adhesive backing 17 removably covered by crinoline or gauzemesh 18 and 19. The adhesive may be zinc oxide or any other similar tacky sterilizable substance.

Reinforced adhesive backed strips 15 and 16 are long and relatively narrow and adapted for adhesion on each side of an open wound 20 (see Fig. 3). Coacting fastening elements 21 and 22 are provided on strips 15 and 16, respectively, the elements extending lengthwise of the strips. Elements 21 are disposed adjacent the folded edge 23 (see Fig. 2) of strip 15 and elements 22 are disposed adjacent the folded edge 24 of strip 16. The elements 21 and 22 are hooks facing away from the folded edges of the strips.

Laces 25, 26, 27 and 28 are each secured by one end to the strips, laces 25 and 26 being secured to the ends, of strip 15 and laces 27 and 28 being secured to the opposite ends of strip 16. The laces provide means to draw the fastening elements on one strip toward those on another strip to close an open wound therebetween (see Fig. 4).

Strip 15 has crosswise perforations 29 for dividing it and strip 16 has similar perforations 30. In this manner the strips 15 and 16 may easily be divided into shorter pairs for smaller wounds. The laces 25, 26, 27 and 2d are made long enough so that two pairs of strips may easily be laced together to close larger wounds.

The strips are enclosed in a discardable envelope 31 and sealed therein. The envelope preferably is made of two sheets of paper 32 and 33 with the peripheral edges sealed together.

The hooks 21 and 22 are similarly constructed, each anchored between the folds of the strips and each having serrated unidirectional slanting teeth 21. so that the .laces may be drawn in one direction to tighten them but will not inadvertently slip back once so drawn. The hooks are bent over so that they touch the strips to prevent the laces from slipping out of them during the lacing. The strips and skin of the patient will be resilient enough to afford an entrance under the hooks by the laces. The teeth 21 are slanted in the lacing direction for each hook. Once the lacing has begun, the teeth prevent any slipping and attendant agitation of the wound and the hooks being bent over so that they touch the strips completely cover the laces so that they will not slip out of the hooks.

In use, the envelope 31 is torn open and the strips removed. The protective crinoline or gauzemesh 18 and 19 is stripped from the adhesive backing. Strip 15 is applied to one side of the wound 20 (see Fig. 3) and strip 16 applied to the other side of the wound. Hooks 21 and 22 are then laced together by laces 25, 26, 27 and 28 like lacing shoes and the laces tied together. The wound is thus closed and can then be covered with ordinary dressings (not shown). The perforations 29 and 30 permit the strips to be divided for smaller wounds and the laces are secured to each end for this reason. For larger wounds, two or more strips may be used.

The device of the present invention has the advantage over similar devices in that it is simple and can be easily applied by laymen. It is particularly adapted for use by the armed forces since it can be applied by a medic or by the wounded himself or one of his companions. It is also adapted for civil defense use for out wounds from flying glass and the like.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is characterized by the provision of reinforced adhesive backed strips 34 and 35. Strip 34 has a folded edge 36 adjacent which a fabric tape 37 is secured at one edge to the front of the strip. Slide fastener elements 38 are secured to the free edge of the tape. Strip 3.5 has a similar edge 3.9 and a fabric tape 40 is similarly secured to strip 35 with elements 41 on the tape. A slide fastener 42 is connected to the elements 41 on tape 40 for engagement with elements 38 on tape 37 to draw the elements toward one another. Both the elements and the slide preferably are made of flexible, antiseptic plastic material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to, the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for closing wounds comprising a pair of reinforced adhesive backed strips for adhesion on each side of an open wound, coacting fastening elements on each strip extending lengthwise of the strip and adjacent one edge thereof, and means to draw the fastening elements on one strip toward those on the other strip to close an open wound therebetween, said strips each having crosswise perforations for separating the strips into shorter pairs, said fastening elements being hooks and said means to draw them toward one another being laces secured at one end to the strips, said hooks being bent over and touching the strips to cover laces drawn thereunder and unidirectional serrated teeth slanting in the lacing direction on each hook to permit the laces to be tightened and to prevent them from inadvertently loosening in the lacing operation.

2. A device for closing wounds comprising a pair of reinforced adhesive backed strips for adhesion on each side of an open wound, coacting fastening elements on each strip extending lengthwise of the strip and adjacent one edge thereof, and means to. draw the fastening elements on one strip toward those on the other strip to close an open wound therebetween, said strips each having crosswise perforations for separating the strips into shorter pairs, said fastening elements being hooks and said means to draw them toward one another being laces secured at one end to the strips, crinoline removably covering the adhesive on the strips, said strips being sterile and a discardable envelope with said strips sealed therein, said hooks being bent over and touching the strips to cover laces drawn thereunder and unidirectional serrated teeth slanting in the lacing direction on each hook to permit the laces to be tightened and to prevent them from. inadvertently loosening in the lacing operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,774,489 Sarason Aug. 26, 1930 2,012,755 Muth Aug. 27, 1935 2,133,609 Eustis Oct. 18, 1938 2,291,149 Connor July 28, 1942 2,627,341 Morgan Aug. 19, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 111,345 Germany Oct. 3, 1899 

2. A DEVICE FOR CLOSING WOUNDS COMPRISING A PAIR OF REINFORCED ADHESIVE BACKED STRIPS FOR ADHESION ON EACH SIDE OF AN OPEN WOUND, COACTING FASTENING ELEMENTS ON EACH STRIP EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF THE STRIP AND ADJACENT ONE EDGE THEREOF, AND MEANS TO DRAW THE FASTENING ELEMENTS ON ONE STRIP TOWARD THOSE ON THE OTHER STRIP TO CLOSE AN OPEN WOUND THEREBETWEEN, SAID STRIPS EACH HAVING CROSSWISE PERFORATIONS FOR SEPARATING THE STRIPS INTO SHORTER PAIRS, SAID FASTENING ELEMENTS BEING HOOKS AND SAID MEANS TO DRAW THEM TOWARD ONE ANOTHER BEING LACES SECURED AT ONE END TO THE STRIPS, CRINOLINE REMOVABLY COVERING THE ADHESIVE ON THE STRIPS, SAID STRIPS BEING STERILE AND A DISCARDABLE ENVELOPE WITH SAID STRIPS SEALED THEREIN, SAID HOOKS BEING BENT OVER AND TOUCHING THE STRIPS TO COVER LACES DRAWN THEREUNDER AND UNIDIRECTIONAL SERRATED TEETH SLANTING IN THE LACING DIRECTION ON EACH HOOK TO PERMIT THE LACES TO BE TIGHTENED AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM INADVERTENTLY LOOSENING IN THE LACING OPERATION. 